Syrah Cuvee Keltie
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5–15 years from the vintage.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted rosemary lamb, grilled venison, wild mushroom stew
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Named in honor of Pax and Pamela Mahle's daughter, Cuvée Keltie represents the pinnacle of Pax's exploration of cool-climate California Syrah. This cuvée is not tied to a single vineyard but is instead a meticulous barrel selection of the most powerful, structurally complex, and savory Syrah lots from acclaimed, wind-swept sites across Sonoma County. Embodying a deeply traditional, Northern Rhône-inspired philosophy, the wine is crafted using 100% whole-cluster fermentation, foot-treading, and native yeasts, followed by extended aging in neutral French oak puncheons. The result is a dramatic, multi-dimensional red that balances wild mountain berries with classic savory elements of cracked black pepper, cured meats, and crushed stone, standing as a testament to the heights California Syrah can achieve when guided by restraint and patience.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 2000 by Pax and Pamela Mahle, Pax is a pioneering Sonoma County winery celebrated for redefining California Syrah through a lens of elegance and restraint. Based in Sebastopol, California, the winery sources fruit from cool-climate, coastal-influenced vineyards across Sonoma and Mendocino counties, such as the acclaimed Alder Springs and Castelli Knight Ranch. Pax's winemaking philosophy centers on minimal intervention, employing whole-cluster fermentation, native yeasts, and aging in concrete vats and neutral French oak to highlight pure terroir. The estate is highly renowned for its savory, structurally complex Syrahs, alongside vibrant, terroir-driven expressions of Gamay, Chenin Blanc, and Mondeuse.